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RHODE ISLAND LAWS I83S 



RELATIiNG TO POBLIC SCQ 









Glass JoS2^4^^ 
Book 



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'l^lK/==^-' 



■T..JU^J-.5— .'^^'^=*-^''^*^ 



RELATING TO 




pOLS, 



PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF 



THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, 



JANUARY SESSION, 1839. 



39965 8 
30 LL 









An act fo revise and amend the several Ads relating to J^"^ ^o, 
Public Schools. 

Be It enoicted by the General Assembly as follows : — ^^l^^\ 

Section 1. The annual income of the money de- 
posited or that may be deposited with this stateby the 
United States in pursuance of " an act to regulate 
the deposites of the public money," passed by the con- 
gress of the United States, and approved June 23, 
1836, shall annually be paid over to the several towns 
in this state ; to be appropriated for the purpose of 
maintaining public schools, in manner hereinafter pro- 
vided. 

Sec. 2. To the money derived from said source, 
shall annually be added enough from any money in 
the general treasury not otherwise specially appropri- 
ated, to make up the sum of twenty-five thousand dol- 
lars, to be annually paid out for the purpose afore- 
said. The money received by the state from the mana- 
gers of lotteries or their agents, or from auctioneers for 
auction duties accruing to the state, shall be hereafter 
annually appropriated, to pay tlie debt now due from 
the general treasury to the permanent school fund, un- 
til said debt is paid : After which time the revenue de- 
rived from those sources shall be applied to the in- 
crease of said fund. The money paid out by virtue of 
this act, shall be divided among the several towns 
in proportion to the respective white population of 
each town under the age of fifteen years : the color- 
ed population of such town under the age often years, 
and five fourteenths of the colored population between 
the ages of ten and twenty-four years ; computing the 
same according to the United States census next pre- 
ceding such annual payments, and excepting Narra- 
gansett Indians in all cases. 

Sec. 3. Each town may raise by tax every year so 
much money as a majority of the freemen may deem 
proper to be appropriated to the purpose of keeping 
public schools, not exceeding in any one year double 
the amount received by such town from the general 
treasury : provided that notice be inserted in the war- 



4 

rant issued for calling the town meeting, that such 
business will then be acted upon. 

Sec. 4. The money received by each town from the 
general treasury, shall be applied to pay for instruc- 
tion, and not for room rent, fuel, or any other purpose 
whatever. 

Sec. 5. The general treasurer shall keep a separate 
account of all monies paid to the state by lottery man- 
agers, or their agents, or auctioneers as aforesaid, and 
shall report the same to the general assembly annually, 
at the May session thereof : particularizing the sums 
received from each of said sources. 

Sec. 6. The school committee of each town shall 
every year certify to the general treasurer, that the 
money received the previous year has been faithfully 
applied according to this act. No town shall receive 
its proportion of the next distribution until such cer- 
tificate be made. 

Sec. 7. The money payable by virtue of this act 
shall be paid to the order of the town treasurers of the 
several toAvns w^hich shall comply with the terms of 
this act, on or after the first day of June in every year : 
And the said town treasurers shall apply for and re- 
ceive said money from the general treasurer as soon 
after it is payable, as it may be required for school 
purposes in their respective towns ; and shall charge 
and receive no compensation lor their services in col- 
lecting the same. 

Sec. 8. Each town shall at its annual town meet- 
ing for the choice of town officers, appoint a school 
committee, to consist of not less than five, nor more 
than thirty persons resident in such town, to act with- 
out compensation ; and to be engaged to the faith- 
ful discharge of their duties before entering upon the 
same. 

Sec. 9. The school committees shall appoint a pre- 
sident or chairman and secretary from their number, 
and shall keep a record of all their proceedings : they 
shall meet at least as often as once in every three 
months, and a majority of the whole number chosen 
shall constitute a quorum ; but any less number may 
adjourn a meeting, giving reasonable notice of the time 
and place of the adjourned meeting. 



Sec. 10. The school committee of each town may 
direct the books to be used and maiie ail necessary 
rules and regulations for the good government of the 
public schools therein : they may suspend or expel any 
scholar for misconduct ; they shall determine the 
places where the school houses shall be located, or 
the school kept, in the different districts, having regard 
to the accommodation of the greatest number of inhab- 
itants ; and for satisfactory reasons mav alter the lo-" 
cation of any school house ; and in case of the death, 
resignation, or removal of a member of the committee, 
they may fill the vacancy for the remainder of the year; 
— and at any regular meeting they may make, alter 
and repeal such by-laws and regulations for the dele- 
gating or more conveniently discharging any or all of 
the duties assigned to them as they shall deem proper : 
Provided, they are not repugnant to the provisions of 
this act, nor in violation of any law in this state. 

Sec. 11. The school committee shall appoint all 
instructors and instructresses, taking care that they be 
of good moral character, temperate and otherwise well 
qualified for the office ; and may dismiss said instruc- 
tors or instructresses in case of inability, or misconduct ; 
said committee shall visit all the schools in their re- 
spective towns, at least as often as once in three months 
during their continuance, and shall generally superin- 
tend, w^atch over and provide for the well ordering and 
governing the same. 

Sec. 12. The school committee shall allow and cer- 
tify all bills for compensation for instruction and all 
other expenses before the same shall be paid by the 
town treasurer ; they shall also at the annual town 
meeting for choosing town officers (and oftener if requir- 
ed) render an account of all their doings for the pre- 
ceeding year. 

Sec. 13. All divisions of any town into school dis- 
tricts, and all alterations of such divisions, whether 
made by a town or school committee, shall be recorded 
in the town clerk's office of such town. 

Sec. 14. The school com.mittee of every town 
shall hold quarterly meetings on the second Mon- 
days of January, April, July and October in every 
year. 



6 

Sec. 15. There shall but one school be kept in any 
school district, unless the school committee shall other- 
wise order. 

Sec. 16. The school committee of any town, with 
the assent of the school committee of an adjacent town, 
may permit such children as will be better accommo- 
dated thereby, to attend the school in such adjacent 
town and may pay such portion of the expense thereof, 
as considering the number of children and other cir- 
cumstances, may be just and proper. 

Sec. 17. The money which each town shall re- 
ceive by virtue of this act, shall be expended among 
the dilTerent schools and school districts, in such pro- 
portions as the school committee shall deem most ad- 
visable. 

Sec. 18. The freemen of any town, may at any le- 
gal town meeting, divide their town into suitable school 
districts, and may from time to time, alter the number 
and limits thereof. All divisions heretofore made by 
any town or school committee, shall remain in force 
until legally changed. 

Sec. 19. Every school district shall be a body cor- 
porate, by such name or designation as the school com- 
mittee shall select, so far as to prosecute and defend in 
all actions relating to the property or affairs of the dis- 
trict, and to take and hold such real estate as may be 
given to or purchased by them for the purpose of sup- 
porting schools in the district. 

Sec. 20. The school committee of the several towns 
and of the city of Providence, shall on or before the 
first Wednesday of May, annually, make official re- 
turns to the secretary of state, of all the public schools 
in such towns and the city respectively, for the year 
preceeding the date of the returns ; the amount of 
school money received from the general treasury ; the 
amount of money raised by the town or city for sup- 
porting public schools ; the number of districts ; the 
number of schools in each district ; the amount of 
money expended in each school, designating the por- 
tion paid for furniture, fuel and incidental expenses, 
and the portion paid for instruction only ; the number 
of children, male and female, attending each school and 
their average attendance ; the time and season of keep- 



ing each school ; tiic nimiber, iiaiiies and salary of in- 
structors ; tlie branches taught and books used. They 
shall also the next and subsequent years, report the 
number of academies and private schools in their re- 
spective towns ; the length of time and season of the 
year they are kept ; the names of the instructors ; 
prices of tuition ; and the average number of scholars 
attending each of them : Provided hoioever^ that the re- 
turns aforesaid to be made by the school committee on 
or before the first Wednesday in May next, shall be 
conformable to the blank returns already furnished the 
several towns under the act of June last. 

Sec. 21. The secretary shall annually furnish every 
town and the city of Providence, v;ith the blank forms 
of the returns required by the last section, which forms 
shall contain a copy of this and said last section ; and 
the secretary shall annually at the session of the gene- 
ral assembly first holden after the annual session in 
May, report an abstract of said returns. No town or 
city shall be entitled to any part of the money appro- 
priated to be paid out of the general treasury, to the 
support of public schools, which shall have failed to 
make such returns for the year next preceding the 
time of the appropriation ; and the names of all such 
delinquent towns or city shall be by the secretary re- 
turned to the general treasurer, on or before the first 
Monday in June annually. 

Sec. 22. There shall annually be paid out of the 
general treasury to the town treasurer of the town of 
Charlestown, the sum of one hundred dollars, to be ex- 
pended under the direction of some suitable person to 
be annually appointed by the governor, in the support 
of a school for the use of the members of the Narragan- 
sett tribe of Indians and the incidental expenses there- 
of, and in purchasing school books for the use of said 
school : and an annual account of tlie appropriation of 
all said money shall be rendered to the general treas- 
urer, on or before the first Wednesday of May. 

Sec. 23. Two or more contiguous districts in ad- 
joining towns, the majority of the taxable inhabitants 
of each district, at a duly notified meeting agreeing 
thereto, may unite together for the purpose of keeping 
«ne school, if they may deem it more advantageous to 



do so ; and in sucli cases the committee men of the dis- 
tricts so uniting, may examine and appoint the instruc- 
tor. 

Sec. 24. Whenever any persons to the number of 
iive or more, have associated or shall hereafter associ- 
ate together for the purpose of building and maintain- 
ing a school-house, they shall be entitled to all the 
privileges of a body corporate, by such name and style 
as they may select, and upon such terms and subject 
to such regulations as they may have adopted upon 
the formation of their association ; and may hold, con- 
trol and convey, by their corporate name, the school 
house so erected, and the lot of land upon which it may 
stand ; and the shares or ownership therein, may be 
transferred in the same manner as personal estate. 

Sec. 25. Whenever any persons to the number of 
live or more, have associated or shall hereafter associ- 
ate together, for the purpose of procuring and main- 
taining a library, they shall be entitled to ail the priv- 
ileges of a body corporate, by such name as they may 
designate, and upon such terms and subject to such 
constitution and rules as they may have adopted upon 
the formation of their association ; and may hold, con- 
trol and convey by their corporate name, estate, real 
and personal, to an amount not exceeding two thou- 
sand dollars, exclusive of their books, maps and library 
furniture. Provided, that in all such cases, the con- 
stitution or articles of association, and all alterations 
thereof, shall be recorded in the town clerk's office in 
the town where such library shall be established. 

Sec. 26. All general acts heretofore passed relating 
to public schools, excepting so much of the eighth sec- 
tion of" an act to establish public schools, passed Jan- 
uary session, A. D. 1828, Avhich relates to the perman-. 
ent School Fund, as is not inconsistent with this act, 
are hereby repealed. Provided, thd^i every thing done 
under said acts shall be valid, and all things omitted 
or neglected to be done, shall be punished by the same 
penalties and forfeitures as if this act had not been 
passed. 

Sec. 27. The secretary shall immediately cause to 
be printed a sufficient number of copies of this act and 
of all laws and acts in force relating to public schools. 



9 

or the buildinn^ of school houses in the several towns, 
and shall sciul a suitable number to the town clerk of 
each town, for the purpose of distribution. 



An Ad to establish Public Schools. JqoA^^ 

183S. 

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly, ^'^'^ 
and by the authority thereof it is enacted, That from and 
after the passing- of this act, all money that shall be paid 
into the general treasury, by ma,nag-ers of lotteries or 
their agents ; also all money that shall be paid into said 
treasury by auctioneers, for duties accruing to the state, 
shall be set apart and paid over to the several towns in 
this state in manner hereinafter mentioned, in propordon 
to their respective population under the age of sixteen 
years, as exhibited in the census provided by law to be 
taken from time to time, under the authority of the Unit- 
ed States ; always adopting for said ratio the census 
next preceding the time of paying out each annual appro- 
priation of said money as herein provided, to be by said 
towns appropriated to and for the exclusive purpose of 
keeping public schools, and paying expenses thereof ; 
the sum, however, hereby appropriated to be paid over 
in any one year, not to exceed ten thousand dollars. 

Sec. 8. And be it further enacted, That of the sum 
now in the treasury, there be appropriated and set apart, 
the sum of five thousand dollars for the commencement 
and formation of a permanent fund, for the support of 
public schools ; and for that purpose the said sum of 
five thousand dollars shall be immediately, or as soon as 
may be, invested by the general-treasurer, with the ad- 
vice of the governor, by purchase or subscription, in the 
stock of some safe and responsible bank ; to which sum 
shall be added, and in like manner invested from year to 
year, all the money that shall accrue as aforesaid, from 
lotteries and auctioneers, over and above said yearly sum 
of ten thousand dollars, mentioned in the first section here- 
of ; and all donations that may be made to said fund for 
the purposes thereof, and the dividends and interest that 
shall from Ume to time accrue on said fund, shall in like 
manner be added thereto and invested ; but whenever, 

2 



10 

in any year, the amount received as aforesaid, fi-om lot- 
teries and auctioneers, shall fall short of said sum of ten 
thousand dollars, annually to be distributed, the dividends 
and interest only of said fund then accrued, or so much 
thereof as may be necessary to supply such deficiency, 
shall be added to the said last named sum, and paid over 
and distributed according- to the provisions of this act. 

Sec. 9. And be it further enacted, That whenever, in 
any year, the money paid into the treasury, from the 
sources provided in this act, shall fall short of said sum 
of ten thousand dollars, the deficiency for said year shall 
be made good from any money in the treasury not other- 
wise appropriated. 



Nov. 1836. An act to provide for the disposition of the proportion of 
the money of the United States to he deposited loith this 
State, by virtue of an act of Congress, entitled " an act 
to regulate the Deposites of the Public Money,'' approv- 
ed June 2Sd, 1836 ; and also to provide for the appro- 
priation of the interest arising from said money. 

^uWk'^*^^ -Be it enacted by the General Assembly, as follows : — 
deposits. Section 1. The governor, the secretary of state, and 
the general treasurer, for the time being, are hereby con- 
stituted commissioners, with power to place in deposit, 
by drafts or otherwise, the proportion of the money of 
the United States received by the general treasurer, ac- 
cording to the act of Congress aforesaid, in such of the 
several incorporated banks in this state as have complied 
and shall comply with the laws relating to banks, and 
shall assent to the provisions of this act, in a rateable pro- 
portion to their capital actually paid in ; said banks obli- 
gating themselves in writing to pay interest to the state, 
on the amount deposited in each, at the rate of five per 
cent, per annum, and to pay over said amount deposited, 
or any part thereof, to the order of the commissioners, 
whenever required in conformity with the provisions of 
this act. The interest on these deposites shall be paid to 
the general treasurer on the second Monday in April, 
1837, and thereafter annually. The commissioners are 
empowered at any time, if in their opinion the deposites 



11 

arc insecure in any bank, to require sufficient security of 
the bank holding them, or in default thereof, or on failure 
to pay the interest on said deposites, to demand of the 
bank payment of the amount of said deposites, and to 
place the same, when received in some other bank or 
baiiks. If any bank shall refuse to make payment when 
said deposites shall be demanded of it, for the causes a- 
foresaid, the commissioners are authorized to issue a war- 
rant of distress, directed to the sheriff, or his deputy, in 
the county where the bank is located, commanding- him 
to distrain the goods, chattels and effects of every kind be- 
longing to such bank, and the same to sell and dispose of 
to the use of the state, to an amount equal to that due 
from said bank and the costs of such proceedings. The 
deposites made by the commissioners, agreeably to this 
act, in any of the banks, shall remain therein, unless vol- 
untarily relinquished, or unless called for by the secre- 
tary of the treasury of the United States, or drawn out 
by the commissioners, by reason of insecurity, or the non- 
payment of interest, or upon a bank being adjudged by 
the supreme court, guilty of violating the law concerning 
banks, for the space of two years from the first day of 
January, 1837, and until the passage of an act of the 
general assembly making a different disposition of them. 
Whenever the money deposited with this state, or any 
part of it, shall be demanded by the secretary of the trea- 
sury, notice thereof, as soon as maybe, shall be given by 
the commissioners to the banks. The deposites, when 
called in by the commissioners, for repayment to the 
United States, shall be required of the banks rateably. 

Sec. 2. The interest accruing to the state on the de- 
posites of the public money received from the United 
States, shall be set apart, and annually applied to the 
support of public schools in the several towns and cities 
of the state ; to which use it shall be apportioned agree- 
ably to. the " act to establish public schools, passed at the 
January session, 1828, and the several acts in amend- 
ment of it. 

Sec. 3. The secretary of state shall cause this act, 
and also the thirteenth section of the act of Congress reg- 
ulating the deposites of the public money, to be printed 
and distributed to each of the incorporated banks in this 
state, within ten days from the rising of this assembly. — 



12 

The banks are requested within thirty days thei-eafter, to 
signify to the general treasurer in writing, their readi- 
ness, if sa disposed, to receive their proportion of the 
deposites, and to comply with the provisions of this 
act. 

Sec. 4. The commissioners shall report to the gene- 
ral assembly, at the next session, the names of the 
banks that have assented to this act, together wMth the 
sums deposited, and also at the ensuing May session, 
and annually thereafter, the amount which has been de- 
posited in each bank, the time of deposit, the interest 
due and received, and also such action relating to the de- 
posites as has been had by the commissioners in the dis- 
charge of the duties of their ofRce. 



1839/^' ^» act in amendment of an act passed at October session, 
A. D. 1836, entitled an act to provide for the disposi- 
tion of the proportion of the money of the United States 
to be deposited with this state, by virtue of an act of Con- 
gress, entitled " An act to regulate the deposites of the 
public money, approved June 23, 1836: and also to pro- 
vide for the appropriation of the interest arising from 
said money." 

Pubuc*^ ^e it enacted by the General Assembly, as follows: — 
Money. Section 1. Whenever any moneys deposited with 

any bank under the provisions of said act shall be volun- 
tarily relinquished by such bank ; or whenever any such 
moneys shall be withdrawn by the commissioners for 
any cause specified in said act, except for repayment to 
the United States ; the commissioners aforesaid are here- 
by authorized, upon application by the town or city trea- 
surer of any town or city in this state, duly authorized for 
that purpose, to loan to such town or city, any portion of 
such deposite fund so returned or withdrawn as aforesaid ; 
Provided, such treasurer shall give bond to said commis- 
sioners, conditioned as follows : To pay interest thereon 
at the rate of five per cent, on the second Monday of 
April annually : to pay the whole or such part of the 
sum loaned as may be required by the commissioners for 
the purpose of repayment to the United States : to pay 



13 

the whole or such part thereof as may be at any time re- 
quired by act of the general assembly : and conditioned 
also, to employ said money so received to the purposes of 
education exclusively. 

Sec. 2. The sum loaned to any such town or city, 
shall not exceed the proportion to which such town or 
city would be entided according- to the ratio of popula- 
tion prescribed in the act entided " an act to establish 
public schools," and the acts in amendment thereof. 

Sec. 3. Whenever any moneys returned or with- 
drawn as aforesaid, shall not be applied for in whole or 
in part as aforesaid, within five days of the time of re- 
turn or withdrawal, the commissioners are hereby au- 
thorized, in their discretion, to place the same or the bal- 
ance thereof, in deposite with some other bank or banks, 
subject to the conditions and limitations of the act to 
which this is in amendment : or to invest the same in 
the capital stock of some bank or banks within this 
state. 



An act explanatory of '^ an act in amendment of an act 'h?.^^^' 
passed at October session, A. D. 1836, entitled an act 
to provide for the disposition of the proportion of the 
money of the United States deposited ivith this state, by 
virtue of an act of Congress, entided an act to regulate 
the deposites of the public money, approved June 23d,, 
1836, and also to provide for the interest arising from 
said money. '^ 

Be it enacted by the General Assembly as follows : — pS^^ 
Section 1. The second section of the act to which this Money. 
is in amendment, shall not be so construed as to restrict 
the loan of any monies in the hands of the commissioners 
to any city or town in this state, in its proportion of pop- 
ulation to the amount so in the hands of said commission- 
ers as aforesaid, but only to the ratio of population of such 
town or city, to the whole sum on deposit with this state, 
from the United States. 



14 

May 4, j^^ ^^f.^ iq coiiftnii ciH Act of the lown of Newport f 07- 
cstablisking a i^uhlic School Fund. 



School 
Fund 



Whereas the town of Newport, in town-meeting, on 
kevvport. iiie 27th day of March last, made and passed the fol- 
lowing acts and resolutions, to wit : 

At a town-meeting holden in Newport, March 26, 1SB7. 

An Act to establish a Fund in aid of the Public School lately 
established by this town. 

Resolved^ by the moderator and freemen of the town 
of Newport, legally assembled at the state-house in said 
town, this twenty-sixth day of March, 1827, that where- 
as, by act of tlie general assembly, this town is author- 
ized to appropriate eight hundred dollars, annually, out 
of the town tax, for the support of public schools ; and 
whereas the said amount may prove insufficient for pro- 
moting the object to the desired extent : 

Therefore it %8 voted and resolved^ That three discreet 
and suitable persons be chosen by the town, on the 
fifth day of June next, to be denominated the Commis- 
vsioners of the School Fund ; that one of them shall liold 
ills appointment one year, another two years, and the 
third three years, to be decided by lot by the commis- 
sioners ; and in case they neglect so to decide, within 
three months after their appointment, then to be deci- 
ded in like manner by the town-council : and that here- 
after one commissioner shall be appointed every year, 
on the annual day of choosing town-officers, so that 
each may hereafter hold, the said office three years ; 
and in case of vacancy, by death, resignation or other- 
wise, such vacancy may be filled at any legal meeting 
of the freemen, (but in case it be at any special meet- 
ing, the same to be mentioned in the warrant for call- 
ing the same,) whose office shall expire at the time his 
predecessor's would have expired. 

And, he it further i-esolmd^ That the town-treasurer 
for the time being, shall be treasurer of the commission- 
ers, and shall receive and pay out all monies belonging 
to said school fund, under the direction and authority 
of tlie commissioners, and be liable with his sureties on 



15 

his bond in the premises, the same as lor all other du- 
ties of his office ; and shall also act as secretary to the 
commissioners, if they require it. 

And be it further resoloed, That the said commission- 
ers shall commence a fund in the following manner, 
viz : that they receive all donations and bequests here- 
after given for the use of public schools in this town, as 
likewise the bequest of the late Constant Taber, Esq. 
for that purpose, and they are hereby authorized to re- 
ceipt to the executors for the same ; that they receive 
of the town-council all monies by them collected on ac- 
count of the town for licenses to retailers and others, 
including also the town's part of what is received from 
auctioneers ; that they receive of the town-treasurer 
all the rents of real estates that are now or may here- 
after come into his possession, by virtue of an act of 
the general assembly, entitled " An act securing the 
estates of persons dying leaving real and personal e.s- 
tates within this state, and leaving no known heir or 
others entitled to distribution within the United States;" 
and whenever the town shall sell any such real estates, 
then the whole amount of sales, after deducting expen- 
ses, to be paid over for the benefit of the school fund ; 
that all personal property, derived to the town from the 
said statute, shall be paid over to the commissioners for 
the same purpose, after deducting expenses, if any ; 
and the said school fund shall be liable to refund the 
same in case the town should thereafter be called on 
for the same by the owners or heirs : that the town may- 
hereafter turn over to the school fund any donations 
which have already or may hereafter come into their 
possession, given generally for useful and charitable 
purposes, where the town have a discretionary power. 

And it is further resolved^ That the remaining New- 
town lots, being twenty-four in nuniber, be sold, and 
the proceeds added to the school fund : that the com- 
missioners shall fund the m.oney received by them in 
good bank or other stocks, at their discretion, a major- 
ity agreeing thereto, and may dispose of any stocks for 
the purpose of exchanging for other stocks, but not un- 
less the whole agree to such sale ; the interest arising 
upon the said fund shall be paid over to such person or 
persons, committee or committees, as the town may 



16 

authorize to receive the same, for tlie purpose of sup- 
porting the school or schools established or to be es- 
tablished on and after the first day of June and the first 
day in January, in every year, provided the same be 
wanted for tiiat purpose ; and if any interest or profits 
remain in their hands unreclaimed as aforesaid, on the 
first day of January in any year, the same shall be 
added to the school fund. 

And he it further resolved^ That Henry Bull, David 
King and Samuel Whitehorn, be commissioners of the 
school fund until the fifth day of June next, being the 
annual day for appointing town officers : that the pres- 
ent as well as all future commissioners are expected to 
serve gratuitously. 

And bcit ficrther resolved, That this act be made per- 
petual, and that the representatives of this town be au- 
thorized and directed to obtain an act of the legisla- 
ture confirming and establishing the same, with such 
alterations as they in their wisdom may suggest. 

On the above and foregoing resolutions being read, 
they were unanimously adopted. A true copy from 
the records — witness, 

Benj. B. HowLAND, Town-Clerk, 

Be It therefore enacted by the General Assembly, and 
hy the authority thereof it is enacted, That the acts and 
resolutions of the town of Newport, herein before recit- 
ed, be and the same are hereby fully sanctioned and 
confirmed and passed as an act of this general assemb- 
ly ; and all the powers, capacities and duties therein 
provided, be and the same are established, confirmed, 
ratified and enacted. 



IchJoig Resolved, That the town of Newport be and it is 

Newport, hereby authorized to appropriate that town's propor- 

1828 ^^' ^^^^ of the money which, by the act to establish public 

schools is ordered to be paid over to the several towns, 

towards completing the school-house already erected 

there, and in support of their present school, or in such 



n 



other manner to the support of such school or schools, 
in that town, as said town may think most advisable ; 
any thing in said act to the contrary notwithstand- 
ing. 



An act 111 addition to an act to confirm an act of the june 25 
town of Weicport, for establishing a public School i^^*^- 
Fund. 

Be It enacted by the General Assernbly, and by the p , ,. 
authority thereof it is enacted, That the town of New- Schools 
port, be, and hereby is empowered, to apply so much of Newport. 
the interest arising on said school fund, and so much of 
the general auxiliary funds, appropriated by said act 
to the future gradual increase of said school fund, as 
shall be necessary for the purchase of a suitable lot of 
land, and for the erection thereon of such edifice as said 
town shall think proper, for the purposes of a public 
or free school. 



An act m addition to the act entitled " An act to en- Jan. 19, 
large and explain the powers of the town-meeti7igs ^^^^' 
and town-council of the town of Providence." 

Be it enacted by the General Assembly, and by the school 
authority thereof it is enacted, That the freemen of the Tax, 
town of Providence, in town-meeting legally assembl- ^Jnce. 
ed, shall have the power of assessing and collecting 
taxes from time to time, in the same manner as other 
town taxes are assessed and collected, and of ap- 
propriating the same to establish and maintain Free 
Schools therein, and to defray the expenses incident 
thereto. 



3 



18 

June 27, ^^ (^^i fo provide for the manner of building School- 
^^^ ' Houses in the town of Hopkinton. 

School Section 1. Beit enacted hij the General Assembly, 

H^^^kln ^^^ by the authority thereof it is enacted, That each and 
ton!* '" every school district, located by the school committee 
of said town of Hopkinton, shall build and provide for 
the said district, a suitable school-house for the use of 
such district, and keep the same in repair ; and that 
no school district shall be entitled to any part or propor- 
tion of the money appropriated by the act entitled " an 
act to establish public schools," unless they shall build 
and keep such school-house in repair ; but such part or 
proportion shall be divided by the school committee 
among the other school districts in said town. 

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That it shall and 
may be lawful for the inhabitants of the respective 
school districts in said town, who are liable to the pay- 
ment of state or town taxes, to meet, from time to time, 
at some suitable place in their respective districts, to 
be appointed by the school committee of said town, and 
to be notified by setting up notifications in their re- 
spective districts, in three public places, at least ten 
days before such meeting, and at such meeting to ap- 
point a chairman and clerk ; and at such meeting they 
shall have power to vote and provide for a tax or taxes 
on the rateable estates in said district, for the building 
or repairing of the school house therein, which shall 
always be apportioned and assessed from the estimate 
and apportionment of the last town tax-bill of said town; 
and shall have power to appoint assessors and a collector 
of such taxes ; and such taxes shall be assessed in the 
same manner, and such collector shall have the same 
powers in the collection of such taxes, as are given to 
collectors of town taxes: and at such meetings they shall 
have power to provide for the building and keeping in 
repair the school houses in such districts respectively,, 
in such manner as a majority shall deem expedient ; 
and to pass all such votes as may be necessary to carry 
this into effect, 



19 

An act ill relation to building a ScJiool House m the ^q^{^' 
eleventh district in the town of Ilojykinton. 

Be It enacted by the General Assembly, and by the au- School 
ihority thereof it is enacted, That all the taxable inhab- Ho^JSin- 
itants of the eleventh district in the town of Hopkin- 
ton, who neglect or refuse to assist in building a school- 
house in said district, as located by the school commit- 
tee of said town, be deprived of the use of the same ; 
and also of any part or proportion of the money appro- 
priated by the act entitled " an act to establish public 
schools," until they shall conform and pay their pro- 
portional part of the expense of erecting said school 
house. 



An axt in addition to and explanatory oj an act entitled ^^l ' 
" an act to provide for the manner of building school 
houses in the town of Ho])kinton,^^ 

Be it enacted by the General Assembly, and by the au- ScUooi 
thority thereof it is enacted, that when the estate of any Hopkin- 
person or persons shall lie in different school districts ton. 
in the said town of Hopkinton, it shall be the duty of 
the assessors appointed in the respective school dis- 
tricts under the act entitled " an act to provide for the 
manner of building school houses in the town of Hop- 
kinton," to assess the portion of such person or persons, 
of the tax or taxes which may from time to time, be 
ordered under said act, on such part of said estate as 
lies within the school district ordering the same ; hav- 
ing reference to the proportional value which that part 
of such estate shall bear, to the whole estate of such 
person or persons as estimated in the lavSt town tax bill 
of said town. 



20 



Jan. 21, 
1830. 



An act authorizing the freemen of the town of Westerly 
to pass such laics as they may deem expedient for the 
building of school houses, not inconsistent ivith gener^al 
laws. 

School Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly, 

Westerly. ^^^ ^V ^^^ authority thereof it is enacted, That the free- 
men of the town of Westerly are hereby authorized in 
legal town meeting, to pass such laws as they may 
deem necessary for the building and repairing school 
houses in the respective school districts of said town, 
with power of laying and collecting, and of providing 
for the laying and collecting of taxes to defray the 
expenses thereof, not inconsistent with the laws of this 
state. 



June 24, An act to authorize the toimi of Smithfteld to increase 



1830 



their School Committee. 



School Be it enacted by the General Assembly, and by the au- 

Commit- tho7^ity thereof it IS cnactcd. That the freemen of the 
field. ^ town of Smithfield, at a legal town meeting to be held 
in said Smithfield, in August, 1830, be and they are 
hereby autliorized and empowered to appoint not more 
than nine persons in addition to the persons now ap- 
pointed for the school committee of said town ; to have 
the same power and to continue in office the same term 
with the persons already appointed. 



Feb. 3, An act to provide for the location of school districts in 
^®^ ■ the toion of Smithfteld and for other purposes. 



School Be it enacted by the General Assembly, as follows: — 

Smithfield Section 1. The freemen of the town of Smithfield 

may, at any town meeting legally assembled, divide 

the town into school districts and determine the limits 

of said districts. 

Sec. 2. The inhabitants of the respective school 

districts in said town, who are liable to the payment of 



21 

state or town taxes, may hold meetings from time to 
time, at some suitable place in their respective dis- 
tricts ; which meetings mitil the inhabitants shall pre- 
scribe another mode of calling the same, shall be called 
and appointed by the school committee of said town, 
and be notified by setting up notices in their respective 
districts, in three public places, at least ten days pre- 
vious to any meeting. And the said inhabitants ol each 
and every district at such meeting thereof, may appoint 
a chairman and clerk ; and may also choose one per- 
son resident in the district to be a committee for that 
district, and to be called the district committee ; and 
who shall hold his office for one year, and until another 
be elected in his stead. 

Sec. 3. The said inhabitants may at any meeting 
legally notified, provide for building and repairing 
school houses in their respective districts ; and for this 
purpose may vote and provide for a tax or taxes on the 
rateable estates in said districts respectively ; which 
tax or taxes shall be apportioned and assessed accord- 
ing to the value of said estates within each district ; 
and said inhabitants may appoint assessors and a col- 
lector of such taxes, which assessors and collector shall 
be engaged ; and such taxes shall be assessed and col- 
lected in the same manner as is now provided by law 
for the assessing and collecting town and state taxes ; 
and such collector shall give bond with surety satis- 
factory to the town treasurer of said town, for the faith- 
ful discharge of the duties of his office ; and shall have 
the same powers in the collection of such taxes, as are 
given to the collectors of town taxes ; and at such 
meeting a majority of the said inhabitants present, 
may determine upon the places where the school- 
houses in their respective districts shall be located ; 
and may direct the manner of building and repairing 
such school-houses ; and pass all such votes as may 
be necessary to carry into effect the provisions of this 
act. 

Sec. 4 The money collected as aforesaid, shall be 
at the disposal of the district committee, to be by him 
applied to the building or repairing of school-houses, or 
to the purchase of land for the sites of school-houses 



22 

according to the votes or directions of the said inhabi- 
tants of the district. 

Sec. 5. The money which shall be paid over in 
each year, to the said town of Smithfield for the pur- 
pose of public schools, by virtue of the act entitled 
" an act to establish public schools," shall be appor- 
tioned by the school committee of said town, among the 
several districts thereof, in proportion to their respec- 
tive population under the age of sixteen years, to be 
enumerated and ascertained by the school committee ; 
and the said money shall be placed by the town treas- 
urer, at the disposal of the district committees, for the 
use of the schools in their respective districts. 

Sec. 6. The district committee shall be engaged ; 
and shall give bond with surety satisfactory to the 
town treasurer of said town, for the faithful performance 
of his trust. It shall be his duty to keep the school- 
house of such district in good order, at the expense and 
under the direction of the district ; to provide fuel and 
all things necessary for the comfort of the scholars 
therein ; to select and contract with a school-master 
for the district ; and to give such information and as- 
sistance to the school committee of the town, as may 
be necessary to aid them in the discharge of the duties 
required of them. 

Sec. 7. The said inhabitants of each and every 
district may, at any regular meeting, prescribe by 
whom and in what manner all future meetings of the 
district for the purposes herein provided shall be call- 
ed. 

Sec. 8. The provisions of this act shall take effect 
and go into operation, any thing in the act entitled 
" an act to establish public schools" and the 'several 
acts in amendment thereof, ^to the contrary notwith- 
standing. 



23 

An act in amendmmt of an act^ entitled " an act to pro- ^*l^- ^' 
vide for the location of school districts in the town of 
Smithfield, and for other purposes." 

Be it enacted by the General Assemhly, asfolloius : — Imithfieid 
The fifth section of the act aforesaid is hereby repeal- 
ed. 



An act authorizing the town of East- Greenwich to pass ^§32^^' 
an act for the building and repairing School-Houses in 
said town. 

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly, School 
and by the authority thereof it is enacted, That the free- e^sT^^ 
men of the town of East-Greenwich be, and they are Green- 
hereby authorized in legal town meeting* to pass such ^'^*^*^' 
laws as they may deem necessary for the building* and 
repairing- school houses in the respective school districts 
of said town ; and to lay and collect, and to provide for 
the laying" and collecting" of taxes to defray the expenses 
thereof by laws, not inconsistent with the laws of this 
state. 



An act to provide for the manner of building School- ^q^^ ^' 
Houses in the town of Cumberland. 



School 
Houses 



Be it enacted by the General Assembly, and by the au- dumber 
thority thereof it is enacted, that it shall and may be law- land. ^ 
fulfor the inhabitants of the respective school districts lo- 
cated by the school committee of said town of Cumber- 
land, who are liable to the payment of state or town 
taxes, to meet from time to time at some suitable place, 
in their respective districts, to be appointed by the school 
committee of said town, and to be notified in their re- 
spective districts in three public places at least, ten days 
before such meeting, and at such meeting to appoint a 
chairman and clerk ; and at such meeting, they shall have 
power to vote and provide for a tax on the ratable es- 
tates in said district, for the building and repairing of the 
school house therein, which shall always be apportioned 



24 

and assessed from the estimate and apportionment in the 
last town tax bill of said town ; and shall have power to 
appoint assessors, and a collector of said taxes, which 
assessors and collector shall be eng-ag-ed as is now pro- 
vided by law for the assessing- and collecting- town and 
state taxes ; and such taxes shall be assessed in the 
same manner, and such collector shall have the same 
powers in the collection of such taxes, as are given to 
collectors of tov/n taxes — and at such meetings they shall 
have power to provide for building and keeping in repair 
the school house in such district respectively, in such 
manner^as a majority shall deem expedient ; and to pass 
all such votes as may be necessary to carry this act into 
effect. 



An act i7i addition to an act providing the manner of 
building School Houses in the town of Cumberland. 

Be it enacted by the General Assembly as follows : — 
It shall be lawful for each and every school district in 
Cumberland, to purchase a school house already built, 
in the same manner and under the same regulations as 
are provided for building and repairing school houses in 
an act passed November 1st 1834, of which this is in 
amendment. 



1835.^^' -^^ cict to provide for the manner of building school houses 

in the town of Richmond. 

hSTsc Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly ^ 

Richmond and by the authority thereof it is enacted, That each 
and every school district, located by the school comnait- 
tee of said town of Richmond, shall build and provide 
for the said district, a suitable convenient school house 
for the use of said district, and keep the same in repair ; 
and that no schooljdistrict shall be entided to any part or 
proportion of the money appropriated by the act entitled 
" an act to establish public schools," unless they shall 
build and keep such school house in repair ; but such 
part or proportion of money forfeited by neglecting to 



25 

build such school house, shall be divided by the school 
committee among the other school districts in said 
town. 

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, that it shall and 
may be lawful for the inhabitants of the respective school 
districts in said tov^^n, who are liable to the payment of 
state or town taxes, to meet from time to time, at some 
suitable place in their respective districts, to be appoint- 
ed by the school committee of said town, and to be notifi- 
ed by setting up notices in their respective districts in three 
public places, at least ten days previous to such meet- 
ing- ; and that the inhabitants of each and every district 
when so assembled, may appoint a chairman and secre- 
tary, and have power to vote and provide for a tax or 
taxes on the rateable estates in said districts for building" 
and repairing- the school house therein ; which tax shall 
be apportioned and assessed from the estimate in the last 
town tax of said town, according' to the value of said 
estates lying- within each district. And they shall have 
power to appoint assessors and a collector of such taxes; 
and such taxes shall be assessed and collected in the 
same manner, and the collector shall have the same pow- 
ers as other collectors of taxes. And a majority of the 
inhabitants of such districts liable to pay taxes may di- 
rect the manner of building and repairing such school 
house as they may deem expedient ; and pass all such 
votes as may be necessary to carry this act into effect. 



An act in' amendment of an act entitled " an act to pro- fgse^' 
vide for the manner of building School Houses in the 
toion of Richmond y 

Be it enacted by the General Assembly, and by the au- School 
thority thereof it is enacted, that the first section of the Rrchmond 
act aforesaid, passed at the June session, A. D. 1835, 
be so amended, as that the operation of the same be sus- 
pended until the first day of September next ; and that 
all forfeitures if any, incurred under the provisions of 
the act aforesaid, be and the same are hereby remitted. 



Richmond 



2G 

Nov. s, Upon the petition of Caleb Barber and ethers, praying* 

^^^^' for certain reasons therein stated, tiiat ihey may be ai> 
Schooi thorized and empowered to build a school-house on the 
House sDot located by the town school committee in the eighth 
n,.i,.^.„,i ^j^^^^i district in Richmond, and receive the quota of free 
school money now apportioned to said district for the free 
schools, and that those who refuse to pay their taxes as- 
sessed according to the act entided " an act to provide for 
themanner of building school houses in the town ofRichr 
mond" be excluded from deriving any benefit from said 
house, or any part of said school money mitil they shall pay 
their taxes assessed, and the interest thereon : Voted and 
resolved, that the prayer of said petition be, and the same 
is hereby granted ; and that said petitioners be, and they 
hereby are authorized and empowered to build said school 
house on the lotlocated by the town committee in the eighth 
school district in said Richmond, and furnish the same ; 
and receive the quota of free school money now or here- 
after apportioned to the said eighth district for the sup- 
port of the free school in said district ; and that all those 
who shall neglect or refuse to pay their taxes assessed 
according to said act, for the erection of said house, shall 
be excluded from the use of the same, or drawing any 
benefit therefrom ; and also of any paYt or proportion of 
the free school money that is or shall be appropriated by 
the act entitled " an act to establish Public Schools," or 
any acts in amendment or aid thereof, until they shall re- 
spectively pay the taxes assessed as aforesaid for the 
building and furnishing said house, and the interest that 
shall accrue thereon : Provided, that the school commit- 
tee of said town shall have power to relocate the school 
house in said district, within thirty days from the rising of 
the general assembly. 



Nov. 3, An act in addition to an act to provide for the manner of 
1837. , building School Houses in the toivn of Richmond. 



School -Se it enacted by the General Assembly as folloivs : — 

house ^ Section 1. The eleventh school district in said town 
may assess a tax for the expense of building their school 
house, at any meeting of the inhabitants thereof hereafter 



Richmond 



legally called, and appoint the necessary officers and col- 
lect the same, in the manner provided for in the act to 
which this is in addition ; notwithstanding- any assess- 
ment heretofore made, the validity of which may have 
been rendered doubtful, by the omission of the necessary 
forms: Provided, that no person who has paid any as- 
sessment heretofore made against him for the building of 
said school-house, shall be compelled to pay again for the 
same purpose. 



Upon the petition of Nathan LillibridgCj Nathan W. Nov. 2, 
Lillibridge and Pardon Olney, inhabitants and residents ^'^^^• 
in the ninth school district in the town of liopkinton, rep- School 
resenting that it would be more convenient for them to be ^^pj^'^^o^j 
annexed to the seventh school district in the town of 
Richmond, adjoining the said district in Hopkinton in 
which they reside, and praying the passage of an act 
transferring them to the said seventh school district in 
tlV3 town of Richmond : Vof.ed and resolved, that the pray- 
er of said petition be, and the same is hereby granted so 
far as relates to the said Pardon Oiney, and that the said 
Pardon Olney be, and he is hereby transferred to the 
seventh school district in the town of Richmond ; and 
shall have all the rights and privileges, and be subject to 
all the liabilities which are now or hereafter may be al- 
lov/ed or imposed upon any inhabitant of the said seventh 
school district so far only as relates to the public schools 
in said district : and the said Pardon Olney and his es- 
tate adjoining" said seventh school district, shall be tax- 
able for school purposes in said last mentioned district 
only, and not in the district in which he now resides : 
Provided that the inhabitants of each of the aforesaid dis- 
tricts v7ho are liable to the payment of town and state 
taxes, shall at legal meetings called for that purpose agree 
thereto. 



Nov. 3, 
Upon the petition of sundry inhabitants of the fourth i^^s. 
school district in the town of Richmond, and the seven- Mumford 
toenth school district in tho town of South Kingstown, ^nis 

^ sin inn 



School. 



Feb. 9, 
1836. 



28 

and for the reasons therein stated, due notice having- been 
g-iven. Voted and resolved, that the inhabitants of said 
districts be authorized to unite together, (the majority of 
the taxable inhabitants of each district consenting thereto) 
and appropriate the proportion of school money belonging 
to each district, to defray the expense of keeping a free 
school in the school-house now erected in the said seven- 
teenth district, for the common benefit of both said dis- 
tricts ; and that the said fourth district in Richmond be 
authorized to receive its proportion of the free school 
money, in the same manner as if they had erected a 
school-house in said district : Provided, that no part of 
the public money be taken to pay for the rent of such 
school-house. 



An act to provide for the manner of building School- 
Houses in the second district in the town of Burrill- 
ville. 



School Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly, 

BuSm- ^^^^ ^y ^^^ authority thereof it is enacted. That it shall 
viiie. and may be lawful for the inhabitants of the second school 
district located by the school committee of said town of 
Burrillville, who are liable to the payment of state or 
town taxes, to meet from time to time at some suitable 
place in said district to be appointed by the school com- 
mittee of said town, and to be notified in three public 
places in said district, at least ten days before such meet- 
ing, and at such meeting to appoint a chairman and clerk; 
and at such meeting they shall have power to vote and 
provide for a tax on the rateable estates in said district 
for the building and repairing of the school house therein ; 
which shall always be apportioned and assessed from the 
estimate and apportionment in the last town tax bill of 
said town. And shall have power to appoint assessors, 
and a collector of said taxes ; which assessors and col- 
lector shall be engaged ; and such taxes shall be asses- 
sed in the same manner as is now provided by law for the 
assessing and collecting town and state taxes. And such 
collector shall have the same powers in the collection of 
such taxes as are given to collectors of town taxes. And 



29 

at such meeting- they shall have power to provide for 
building- and keeping" in repair the school house in said 
district, in such manner as a majority shall deem expe- 
dient ; and to pass all such votes as may be necessary to 
carry this act into effect. 



Upon the petition of Stephen Bartlett and others, Feb. i, 
inhabitants of the second school district in the town ^'^■^'^• 
of Burrillville, representinar that the school-house in o , , 

!• • I 11 1 bchool 

said district has not been properly located, and pray- district; 
ing that a committee be appointed to locate the same : ^.^J^"^i- 
Voted and resolved, that the prayer of said petition be 
so far granted, as that the school committee of said 
town shall be and they hereby are authorized and em- 
powered to appoint three suitable and disinterested 
persons belonging to said town, and who are not resi- 
dent in said district, to be a committee to visit the 
same, and determine upon the place therein, where the 
said school-house shall be located ; and their deter- 
mination shall be final. 



An act relating to the building and repairing a School ^°^- ^» 
House in the School District, No. 1, in North Provi- 
dence. 

Be it enacted by the General Assembly, as follows : — school 
Section 1. It shall and may be lawful for the inhab- ^- ^'°^*" 
itants of school district No., 1, located by the school 
committee of said town of North Providence, in the 
village of Pawtucket in said town, who are liable to 
the payment of state or town taxes, to meet from time 
to time at some vSuitable place in said district, to be 
appointed by the member or members of the school 
committee residing in said district, or in default there- , 
of by the school committee of said town, and to be no-^ 
tilled in three public places in said district, at least ten 
days before such meeting ; and at such meeting to ap- 
point a chairman and clerk ; and at such meeting they 
shall have power to vote and provide for a tax on the 



, 30 

rateable estates in said district for the building and 
repairing of a school house therein ; which tax shall 
always be apportioned and assessed from the estimate 
and apportionment in the last town tax bill of said 
town ; and to appoint assessors and a collector of said 
taxes, which assessors and collector shall be engaged ; 
and such taxes shall be assessed in the same manner as 
is provided by law for the assessing and collecting town 
and state taxes. And such collector shall have the 
same powers in the collection of such taxes as are by 
law given to collectors of town taxes. And at such 
meetings said inhabitants shall have power to provide 
for building and keeping in repair the school house in 
said district, in such manner as a majority present at 
such meeting duly notified shall deem expedient ; and 
to do all such acts as shall be necessary to carry the 
powers herein granted into effect : Provided^ the same 
be not repugnant to the laws of this state or of the U- 
nited States. 



May 5, Au act relating to the building and repairing a School 
1838. House in school district No. 7, in North Providence. 

School Be It enacted by the General Assembly, asfolloics : — 

SiTcr'' Section 1. It shall be lawful for the .freemen of the 
town of North Providence residing in school district 
No. 7, located by the school committee of said town to 
meet from time to time at some suitable place in the 
district, to be appointed by the member or members of 
said school committee residing in said district, or in de- 
fault thereof by the school committee of said town, and 
to be notified in three public places in said district at 
least ten, days before such meeting ; and at such meet- 
ing they shall appoint a chairman and clerk, and shall 
have power to vote and provide for a tax on the rate- 
able estates in said district for the building and repair- 
ing a school house therein : which tax shall always be 
apportioned and assessed from the estimate and ap- 
portionment in the last town tax bill of said town : and 
to appoint assessors and acollectorof said taxes, which 
assessors and collector shall be engaged ; and such 



31 

taxes shall be assessed in the same manner as is pro- 
vided by law, for assessing and collecting town and 
state taxes. And such collector shall have the same 
powers in the collection of such taxes as are by law 
given to collectors of town taxes. And at such meet- 
ings said freemen shall have power to provide for build- 
ing and keeping in repair the school house in said dis- 
trict, in such manner as a majority present at such 
meeting duly notified shall deem expedient : and to do 
all such acts as shall be necessary to carry the powers 
herein granted into effect : Provided the same be not 
repugnant to the laws of the state, or of the United 
States. 



An act to provide for the building School Houses in the ^ggg^' 
toivn of Exeter. 

Be it eyiacted by the General Assembly^ as folloivs : — School 
Section 1. Each and every school district, located by Exeter. 
the school committee of said town of Exeter, shall 
build and provide for the said district, a suitable and 
convenient school-house for the use of said district, and 
keep the same in repair ; and no school district shall 
be entitled to any part or proportion of the money ap- 
propriated by the act entitled " an act to establish 
public schools." unless they shall build and keep such 
school-house in repair ; but such part or proportion of 
money forfeited by neglecting to build such school- 
house, shall be divided by the school committee among 
the other school districts in said town. 

Sec. 2. It shall and may be lawful for the inhabi- 
tants of the respective school districts in said town, 
who are liable to the payment of state or town taxes, 
to meet from time to time, at some suitable place in 
their respective districts, to be appointed by the school 
committee of said district, and to be notified by setting 
up notices in their respective districts in three public 
places, at least ten days previous to such meeting ; and 
the inhabitants of each and every district when so as- 
sembled, may appoint a chairman and secretary, and 
have power to vote and provide for a tax or taxes on 



32 

the rateable estates in said districts for building and 
repairing tbe school-house therein, and also for pur- 
chasing land for the site of said house; which tax shall 
be apportioned and assessed from the estimate of the 
last town tax of said town, according to the value of 
said estates taxable within each district. And they 
shall have power to appoint assessors and a collector 
of such taxes ; and such taxes shall be assessed and 
collected in the same manner as is now provided by 
law for the assessing and collecting town and state 
taxes ; and the collector shall have the same powers 
in the collection of such taxes, as are given by law to 
collectors of town taxes. And a majority of the in- 
habitants present of such districts liable to pay taxes, 
may direct the manner of building and repairing 
such school-houses as they may deem expedient and 
pass all such votes as may be necessary to carry this 
act into effect. 

Sec. 3. In case the location of the school-house in 
any district, by the school committee shall not be sat- 
isfactory to all the said inhabitants thereof, it shall be 
the duty of the school committee of said town, on the 
written request of any three inhabitants of said dis- 
trict, who are liable to pay taxes as aforesaid, to ap- 
point at least three suitable and disinterested men as a 
committee, to visit said district and determine on the 
location of said house ; and their determination shall 
be final. 

Sec. 4. Each district in said town may at any reg- 
ular meeting thereof, appoint a suitable person who 
shall, under the directions of such district, purchase any 
land that may be necessary for the location of said 
houses, and receive a deed of the same in his name, for 
the use and benefit of such district; which shall con- 
vey a good title, and shall forever secure the said land 
to such district, for the use of a school-house. 

Sec. 5. All districts in said town which now have 
convenient school-houses located in proper places in 
said districts, shall have and receive their equal pro-^ 
portion of public money, in the same manner as other 
districts which may build school-houses hereafter by 
virtue of this act ; and one year from the passing of this 
act, shall be allowed to all districts in said town, to 



33^ 

build and provide said honses, before any forfeiture of 
the public school money named in the lirst section of 
this act shall take place. 



An act in amendment of an act, entitled " an act to pro- \^q^^' 
vide for the manner of building School Houses in the 
town of Exeter." 

Be It enacted hii the General Assembly as folloivs : — pcJiooi 

llOUSGS 

Section 1. One year from the passage of this act is Exeter. 
hereby allowed to the several school districts in said 
town, within which to build school-houses therein, ac- 
cording to the provisions of the act hereby amended, 
before any forfeiture of the ptblic school money named 
in the first section of said act shall be incurred. 

Sec. 2. So much of said act as is inconsistent here- 
with is hereby repealed. 



An act to provide for the manner of building School Houses j^^e 24, 
inthetownofCharlestoivn." 

Be it enacted by the General Assembly as follows : — School 
Section 1. Each and every district located by the chaiies- 
school committee of said town of Charlestown, may t°^^" 
build and provide for such district a suitable and con- 
venient school house, and keep the same in repair. 

Sec. 2. The inhabitants of the respective school 
districts in said town who are liable to the payment of 
state or town taxes, may meet from time to time at 
some suitable place within their districts, to be appoint- 
ed by the school committee of said town, and to be no- 
tified in such manner as said committee shall direct, 
for at least ten days preceding the time of meeting ; 
and when so assembled they may appoint a chairman 
and secretary ; and adjourn from time to time ; and 
shall have power to provide for a tax or taxes on the 
rateable estates in their respective districts for building 
or repairing school houses therein ; which tax shall be 



34 

apportioned and assessed from the estimate in the last 
town tax of said town, according to the value of said 
estates lying within such districts. And they may ap- 
point assessors, and a collector of such taxes, who shall 
be engaged in the usual form. And the taxes shall be 
assessed and collected in the same manner, and the 
collector shall have the same powers as collectors of 
town and other taxes. And a majority of the inhabit- 
ants of each district liable to pay taxes, may direct the 
manner of building and repairing school houses, and 
may pass all votes necessary to carry this act into ef- 
fect. 



State of Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations. 
Secretary's Office, Maij 8, A. B. ""SSQ, 

The foregoing is a true copy of the several acts now 
in force relating to Public Schools : duly compared, 

HENRY BOWEN, 

, Secretary of State. 



Ekratum.— Side note top of page 23, for 1837 read 1838. 



